Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 54

COUNCIL ON AGING - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Construction Project Checklist
o 
C
 heck the contractor license number at
www.cslb.ca.gov to make sure it is current and in
good standing.
o 
A
 sk to see the contractor's pocket license and a
current photo ID.
o 
A
 sk for a current list of contact information (telephone number and business address) for the
contractor, subcontractors, and suppliers.
HOUSING

o 
F 
ind out from your local building department
whether your project needs a building permit,
and confirm that your contractor will obtain all
necessary permits.

workers' compensation insurance for employees.
o 
M
 ake sure all project materials and expectations
are spelled out and signed in a written contract,
including clean-up, debris removal, and site security. Ask your contractor if he or she understands
exactly what you want.
o 
H
 ave a timetable for each phase of your project and the corresponding payment schedule
spelled out in the contract. Do not let payments
get ahead of the work.
o 
P
 
ay no more than 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less.

o 
G
 et at least three identical construction bids, ask
for client references, and check out previous work
in person.

o 
N
 ever pay in cash.

o 
A
 sk whether your contractor carries general liability insurance in case of accidental damage and

o 
C
 onsider searching your contractor's name online
for additional reviews.

Continued from page 53
no work is done and the project is abandoned.
High Pressure Sales: A fast-talking operator pushes
you for an immediate decision about work, which
makes it impossible for you to get competitive bids,
check licenses, or review references.
Scare Tactics: A person offers to perform a free inspection, then claims a
serious problem such
as faulty wiring, bad
plumbing, or a leaky
roof, will put you in
danger. This can lead to
unnecessary and overpriced work.
Demand for Cash:
The worker insists that
you pay in cash, sometimes going so far as to drive you
to the bank to withdraw funds. With money in hand,
the unscrupulous person takes the money and abandons a substandard or unfinished project.
Illegally Large Down Payments: A contractor
takes more for a down payment than is allowed by law,
claiming to need instant cash for supplies or to pay

o 
K
 
eep all of your project documents, including
payments and photographs, in a job file.

workers. By law, a down payment cannot exceed 10%
of the total project price or $1,000, whichever is less.
Verbal Agreements: The "contractor" states that a
written contract is unnecessary and promises to deliver on the verbal agreement, then performs shoddy
work-or none at all-and leaves the property owner
with no recourse.
Additional
Resources
n California Contractors State License
Board
www.cslb.cca.gov or
call 800-321-2752
n California Department of Insurance
at
800-927-4357
Research your city's building permit requirements
via: League of California Cities at www.cacities.org

By law, a down payment
cannot exceed 10% of the
total project price or $1,000,
whichever is less.

54

Answers Guide 2017	

Adapted from Contractors State License Board, Department of Consumer Affairs

COUNCIL ON AGING - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS A 501 (C)3 NONPROFIT CORPORATION.
TO DISTRIBUTE
ANSWERS FREE OFResource
COST, WE MUST SELL
ADVERTISING SPACE.| WHILE
WE APPRECIATE THE PAID
LISTINGS IN ANSWERS, THEIR
Aging
and Disability
Connection
800-510-2020
| www.adrcoc.org
INCLUSION DOES NOT IMPLY A RECOMMENDATION OR ENDORSEMENT OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES BY COASC. ALWAYS BE A VIGILANT CONSUMER. VERIFY INFORMATION AND SEEK REFERENCES WHERE APPROPRIATE.


http://www.cslb.ca.gov http://www.cslb.ca.gov http://www.cacities.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Council on Aging Answers 2017

Contents
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - Intro
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - Cover1
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - Cover2
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 1
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - Contents
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 3
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 4
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 5
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 6
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 7
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 8
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 9
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 10
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 11
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 12
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 13
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 14
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 15
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 16
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 17
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 18
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 19
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 20
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 21
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 22
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 23
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 24
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 25
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 26
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 27
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 28
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 29
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 30
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 1a
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 1b
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 31
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 32
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 33
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 34
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 35
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 36
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 37
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 38
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 39
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 40
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 41
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 42
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 43
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 44
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 45
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 46
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 47
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 48
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 49
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 50
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 51
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 52
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 53
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 54
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 55
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 56
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 57
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 58
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 59
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 60
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 61
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 62
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 63
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 64
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 65
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 66
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 67
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 68
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 69
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 70
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 71
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 72
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 73
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 74
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 75
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 76
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 77
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 78
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 2a
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 2b
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 79
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 80
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 81
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 82
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 83
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 84
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 85
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 86
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 87
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 88
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 89
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 90
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 91
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 92
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 93
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 94
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 3a
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 3b
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 95
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 96
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 97
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 98
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 99
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 100
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 101
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 102
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 103
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 104
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 105
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 106
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 107
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 108
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 109
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 110
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 111
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 112
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 113
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 114
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 115
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 116
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 117
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 118
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 119
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 120
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 121
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 122
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 123
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 124
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 125
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 126
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 127
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 128
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 129
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 130
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 131
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 132
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 133
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 134
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 135
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 136
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 137
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 138
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 139
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 140
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 141
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 142
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 143
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 144
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 145
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 146
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - Cover3
Council on Aging Answers 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/coaoc/coa_answers2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/coaoc/coa_answers2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/coaoc/coa_answers2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/freedom/coa_answers2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/freedom/seniorguide2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/freedom/seniorguide2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/freedom/seniorguide2011
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com